The Journalists’ Committee elected its first Action Committee at the Annual General Meeting held yesterday, Monday 19 June, at the Radisson SAS Baypoint Hotel.

Karl Schembri was elected uncontested as chairman. Massimo Farrugia, Raphael Vassallo, Claire Bonello and Mark Micallef were elected as members of the Action Committee.

Speaking after the election, Karl Schembri said: “I am proud to be elected to chair this committee. Today’s election is the outcome of some intense discussions and democratic debate in which we have progressed impressively in a very short time.

“Together, we have set for our committee the immediate and longer term priorities, particularly lobbying for the enactment of a Freedom of Information Act, scrutiny of libel actions against journalists and editors, a critical debate about racism and the coverage of immigration, and putting press freedom on the national agenda. Most importantly, we will stand up for journalists and journalism.”

The AGM also adopted a motion committing the Action Committee to explore the future of journalism in cooperation with the Institute of Maltese Journalists and report back to its members the outcome of discussions in this regard.